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  • © 2017

The Absolute and Star Trek

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Offers the novel approach of utilizing the broadcast iterations of the immensely popular Star Trek franchise to analyze/treat/convey continental philosophy
  • Challenges analytic philosophy, including its application to Star Trek
  • Original and innovative contributions to continental and analytical philosophy, as well as international relations, television studies, Marxism, and pragmatism/neo-pragmatism

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Introduction

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 1-4
  3. Analytic Philosophy and Star Trek

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 5-14
  4. Speculation in Star Trek

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 15-23
  5. The Progressive Dialectic of Star Trek

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 25-31
  6. Star Trek and False Infinities

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 33-40
  7. Star Trek and Language: Dasein or Speculation?

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 41-49
  8. Star Trek: Prejudice versus Universal Rationality

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 51-57
  9. Zombies, Star Trek, and International Relations

    • George A. Gonzalez
    Pages 75-82
  10. Back Matter

    Pages 89-116

About this book

This volume explains how Star Trek allows viewers to comprehend significant aspects of Georg Hegel’s concept the absolute, the driving force behind history.

Gonzalez, with wit and wisdom, explains how Star Trek exhibits central elements of the absolute. He describes how themes and ethos central to the show display the concept beautifully. For instance, the show posits that people must possess the correct attitudes in order to bring about an ideal society: a commitment to social justice; an unyielding commitment to the truth; and a similar commitment to scientific, intellectual discovery. These characteristics serve as perfect embodiments of Hegel’s conceptualization, and Gonzalez's analysis is sharp and exacting.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Political Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA

    George A. Gonzalez

About the author

George A. Gonzalez is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami, USA. He specializes in the fields of political theory, popular culture, and environmental politics and policy. In the areas of popular culture and political theory he has published two articles in the journal Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction, as well as the book The Politics of Star Trek: Justice, War, and the Future.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Absolute and Star Trek

  • Authors: George A. Gonzalez

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47794-7

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-47793-0Published: 04 January 2017

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-83826-7Published: 13 July 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-47794-7Published: 23 December 2016

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 116

  • Number of Illustrations: 5 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: German Idealism, Philosophy of History, Philosophy of History, American Cinema and TV

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access